Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir Cask Finish 17 years old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 50%

New oak is whisky's hard school. The cask has never held anything before, so it gives everything it has at once — spice, vanilla and tannin, unfiltered.

Expert description

Deanston Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and subsequently in new American oak casks, bottled at cask strength of 58.5% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Virgin oak means casks that have never held spirit or wine before. They give a far stronger cask influence than refills, which is why they are typically used only for a shorter finishing period. This release is the first batch of Deanston's Virgin Oak at cask strength, which makes both the spice and the house honey markedly more concentrated than in the standard version.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful vanilla and coconut, with cinnamon, honey and a warm note of freshly planed oak.

Palate

Dense and spiced. Vanilla, caramel and malted barley, with pepper and a dry tannic edge from the new wood. The cask strength pushes it all forward without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and warm, with spice, vanilla and a dry oak close.

Specifications

Name: Deanston Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 58,5%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and new American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1
EAN no.: 5029704221189

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Spiced · Oak · Honeyed · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. The first batch of Virgin Oak at cask strength, released as a 2023 edition. First numbers in a series usually become hard to find fastest.

Did you know?

New oak casks cost many times what a used bourbon cask does. That is why virgin oak is almost always used as a finish rather than for full maturation — few distilleries can afford to leave whisky for decades in wood nobody has used before.

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Frequently asked questions about Deanston Virgin Oak 2023 Cask Strength Batch 1

What is virgin oak?

New oak casks that have never held spirit or wine. They give a far stronger cask influence than refills and are therefore typically used only for a shorter finishing period.

How does it differ from the standard Virgin Oak?

The strength. The standard release sits at 46.3%, while this one is bottled at cask strength of 58.5%. The spice and vanilla become markedly more concentrated.

What does batch 1 mean?

That it is the first bottling of Virgin Oak at cask strength. Later batches come from different casks and will not necessarily taste the same.

Should I add water?

At 58.5% a couple of drops can take the edge off the spice and lift the honey. Try it neat first so you can feel how much the new wood contributes.

Is it peated?

No. Deanston uses no peat at all. For smoke, head towards Islay Whisky.

What defines Deanston?

A soft, honeyed and unpeated Highland style from a converted cotton mill by the River Teith. See the rest of the region in our Highland Whisky.